Cigarette extinguisher

ABSTRACT

An extinguisher for cigarettes including an upper boxlike member having top, rear and sidewalls and a downwardly facing jawlike forward end portion, and a lower boxlike member having bottom, rear walls and sidewalls and an upwardly facing jawlike forward end portion. The extinguisher includes a hinge pin assembly connecting the upper and lower boxlike members together in operative pivotal relationship with the members being freely pivotable about the pin assembly and is further provided with a spring device positioned between the members for biasing the jawlike forward end portions together for extinguishing the lighted end of a cigarette placed therebetween.

United States Patent [72] Inventor G.H.Etheridge 6059 Hyde Park Circle,Jacksonville, Fla. 32210 [21] AppLNo. 823,867 [22] Filed May 12,1969[45] Patented Aug.24, 1971 [54] CIGARE'I'I'FZEXTINGUISHER6C1aims,8DrawingFigs.

[52] U.S.Cl 131/256, 85/4 [51] 1nt.Cl ..A24f13/l8 [50] FieldotSear-ch131/235, 236,237,256,231

[56] Relerenca Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,570,565 1/1926 Hanner85/4UX 1,806,782 5/1931 Brachmm... 131/235ST 1,810,492 6/1931Mearsetal..... 131/256 1,846,252 2/1932 Ford 131/237 1,911,262 5/1933Athon 131/237 Primary Examiner.loseph S. Reich Attorneys-George H.Baldwin and Arthur G. Yeager ABSTRACT: An extinguisher for cigarettesincluding an upper boxlike member having top, rear and sidewalls and adownwardly facing jawlike forward end portion, and a lower boxlikemember having bottom, rear walls and sidewalls and an upwardly facingjawlike forward end portion. The extinguisher includes a hinge pinassembly connecting the upper and lower boxlike members together inoperative pivotal relationship with the members being freely pivotableabout the pin assembly and is further provided with a spring devicepositioned between the members for biasing the jawlike forward endportions together for extinguishing the lighted end of a cigaretteplaced therebetween.

CIGARETTE EXTINGUISI-IER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of theInvention The invention disclosed herein relates to an improved devicefor extinguishing cigarettes, and more particularly pertains to animproved cigarette extinguisher or snuffer of the squeezing or crushingtype. Additionally the present invention relates to a portable type orpocket type of cigarette extinguisher, saver and economizer apparatusfor satisfactorily and safely snuffing out an ignited cigarette or thelike, and then holding and carrying the so extinguished cigarette buttfor extended later use if and when desired.

The use of the cigarette extinguisher of this invention, particularlythe pocket form thereof which may be used by campers, hunters and thelike, and also a form thereof which may be used in connection withsmokers riding in automobiles, is particularly useful in dry weather asit eliminates much of the danger from forest fires and grass firescaused by lighted cigarettes and the like carelessly thrown away bycampers, hunters and the like or smokers riding in automobiles disposingof their cigarettes out of the windows of the moving vehicle.

Many smokers or users of cigarettes and the like have the habit ofsaving so-called butts for extended later or future use. They follow thepractice of lighting a cigarette, taking afew puffs and then knockingoff the ignited end, placing the butt in the pocket or a specialcontainer and saving it for further use. In fact, it is sometimesnecessary when one is waiting for a streetcar, bus or the like, andsuddenly decides to board the same, to extinguish the cigarette andpreserve it for future use. Also there are occasions when one desires toextinguish or snuff out a cigarette when he finds himself in asituation, where for example there are no ash trays handy or where thereis no place to stamp out the ignited cigarette or otherwise handilydispose of the same. Under such circumstances there has long existed aneed for a simple, economical extinguisher and safety carrying device.

2; Description of the Prior Art Devices for extinguishing lighted orignited cigarettes or the like and cigarette economizer and saverapparatuses have been previously devised, such prior art apparatuses anddevices being generally disclosed in US Pat. Nos. 1,778,998, 1,810,492,1,948,880, 2,487,529, 2,619,093, 2,639,718, 2,740,41 l and 2,781,762.Applicant's invention of an improved cigarette extinguisher or snufferand economizer, disclosed herein, is an improvement over such prior artdevices, as shown for example in the abovementioned patents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A general object of this invention is toprovide an improved manually operated device for convenientlyextinguishing lighted cigarettes and the like, which may be convenientlyadapted for detachable securement to a suitable support, such as an ashtray, a stand for use on a smoking table, a dashboard of an automobile,or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved cigarettesnuffer or extinguisher which is simple and cleanly in its use and is ofa convenient size to be carried in the pocket of the user if so desired.

Still another object of the instant invention is to provide anextinguisher or snuffer which will facilitate the reception of thelighted end of cigarettes and the like directly between the clamping orextinguishing elements of the device and which also serve as a receiverand which will retain the cigarette in position and extinguish the same,and from which the same may be ultimately released into an ash tray orother suitable waste receptacle.

Yet another object of the subject invention is to provide a cigaretteextinguisher which is compact, neat in appearance, simple inconstruction, and which may be cheaply and economically produced.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a semiautomaticcigarette extinguisher which will enable an ignited cigarette appliedthereto to be extinguished, free from danger of loose sparks, which willretain the'ashes therefrom within itself, with the extinguishedcigarette and ashes being readily ejected therefrom when so desired bythe user thereof when a convenient place of suitable disposition isavailable.

In general these objects are attained by providing an extinguisher forcigarettes and the like including an upper member having a rearward endportion and downwardly facing forward end portion, and a lower memberhaving a rearward end portion and an upwardly facing forward endportion. The upper and lower members are connected together in operativepivotal relationship by pivot means spaced between the for ward andrearward end portions thereof with the upper and lower members beingfreely pivotable about the pivot means. The extinguisher furtherincludes spring means positioned between the upper and lower members forbiasing the forward end portions thereof together for extinguishing thelighted end of the cigarette placed therebetween.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The novel features which are believedto be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularityin the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to itsorganization and method of operation, may best be understood byreference to the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of the improved cigarette extinguisher ofthis invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged transverse-sectional view taken along line 2--2 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial transverse-sectional view taken along line 44 ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a reduced bottom plan view of a blank or the like usable inthe fabrication of the upper section of the improved cigaretteextinguisher as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a reduced top plan view of a blank or the like usable in thefabrication of the lower section of the improved cigarette extinguisheras shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a partial enlarged transverse-sectional view similar to FIG. 2showing another embodiment of the cigarette extinguisher of thisinvention; and

FIG. 8 is a partial enlarged transverse-sectional view similar to FIG. 7showing a further embodiment of the improved cigarette extinguisher. 6

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings indetail, and in particular to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 thereof, the improvedcigarette extinguisher 10 of this invention is seen to include an uppermember or section 12 and a lower member or section 14, which sections12, 14 engagingly fit one within the other, as seen in FIG. 1, and whichare held and maintained in the engaged or mating position by means of aconnecting hinge pin arrangement or pivot means 16 extendingtherebetween. I-Iinge pin arrangement 16 includes a threaded male screwelement 18 which screws into and is received by a female threaded screwelement 20, with the respective element 18, 20 extending throughopenings within the sides of both the upper and lower sections of thecigarette extinguisher. By disconnecting screw elements 18 and 20 ofhinge pin 16 sections 12 and 14 of the cigarette extinguisher may bedisassembled. Cigarette extinguisher 10 further includes a flat leafspring 22 positioned within its rearward end portion between hinge pinor pivot means 16 and the rear end of upper and lower members 12 and 14,see FIG. 2, for spring biasing the jawlike forward end portion 24 of thecigarette extinguisher into the closed position as depicted in FIG. 1.When properly positioned within the cigarette extinguisher flat leafspring 22 has a U-shaped portion 26 positioned closely adjacent hingepin 16 and a pair of side portions 28 and 30 which extend outward fromU-shaped portion 26 and respectively contact or engage the insides ofupper and lower sections 12 and 14 of the cigarette extinguisher.

The upper 12 and lower 14 sections of cigarette extinguisher arepivotable about hinge pin 16 from the completely closed position asdepicted in FIG. 1, with the jawlike forward end portion 24 thereofclosed and sections 12 and 14 being spring biased into touching contactby means of spring 22, to an open position as depicted in dashed-lineconfiguration at reference numeral 32 in FIG. 2, wherein the rearwardend portions of sections 12 and 14 are in contact with each other toprevent further opening of the cigarette extinguisher. In moving fromthe completely closed position as depicted in FIG. 1 to the openposition as depicted in FIG. 1 to the open position as depicted indashed-line configuration in FIG. 2, the cigarette extinguisher sections12 and 14 pass through an intermediate open position, as depicted insolid line configuration in FIG. 2 at reference numeral 34. The openingof the cigarette extinguisher into the positions as depicted in FIG. 2is attained by compressing the upper and lower sections 12 and 14between a thumb and finger respectively positioned on the rearward endportions thereof.

With particular reference to FIG. 5, a blank or the like usable in thefabrication of the upper section 12 of the cigarette extinguisher isdepicted therein and includes a central body portion 36. Attached tobody portion 36 are a pair of side portions 38 and 40 connected theretoalong respective crease or bending lines 42 and 44. Attached to the rearend of body portion 36 is a rectangular end portion 46 being connectedthereto along bending or crease line 48. A small rectangular frontportion or lip 50 is attached to the forward end of body portion 36along crease or bending line 52. Attached to the other or opposite endof lip or front portion 50 is a jaw or tonguelike reentrant portion 54,being attached to front portion 50 along bending or crease line 56. .lawportion 54 includes an elongated U-shaped cutout portion at 58, thepurpose and function of which will be explained more fully hereinbelow.Side portions 38 and 40 include respective circular openings orpassageways 39 and 41 positioned therein to accommodate the positioningof pivotal connecting pin means 16 within and through this upper sectionor portion 12 of cigarette extinguisher. Openings or passageways 39and'41 are in proper alignment one with the other when respective sideportions 38 and 40 are bent upward along respective crease or bendinglines 42 and 44 out of the plane of the main body portion 36 of thisupper section or portion 12 of the cigarette extinguisher.

With particular reference to FIG. 6, a blank or the like usable in thefabrication of the lower section 14 of cigarette extinguisher 10 is seentherein and includes a central body portion 60. A pair of side portions62 and 64 are attached to the sides of central portion 60 alongrespective bending or crease lines 66 and 68. A rectangular end portion70 is connected to the rearward end of body portion 60 along bend orcrease line 72. Connected to the forward end of body portions 60 is asmall rectangular front portion or lip 74, attached thereto alongbending or crease line 76. A rectangular-shaped reentrant jaw ortonguelike portion 78 is attached to the other or opposite end of lip orfront portion 74 along bending or crease line 80. Reentrant jaw ortonguelike portion 78 includes an elongated U-shaped cutout portion at82, the purpose and function of which will be explained more fullyhereinbelow. Side portions 62 and 64 include respective circularopenings or passageways 84 and 86 positioned therein to accommodate thepositioning of pivotal connecting pin means 16 within and through thislower section 14 of the cigarette extinguisher. Openings or passageways84 and 86 are in proper alignment one with the other when respectiveside portions 62 and 64 are bent upward along respective crease orbending lines 66 and 68 out of the plane of the central body portion 60of this lower section 14 of the cigarette extinguisher.

To properly form and assemble the upper and lower sections 12 and 14 ofthe device into the cigarette extinguisher apparatus as depicted inFIGS. 1 through 4, the lower section 14 of FIG. 6 is first formed bybending side portions 62 and 64 thereof upward along respective bendingor crease line 66 and 68 out of the plane of the central portion 60.Then the rear 70 and front 74 portions are bent upward along respectivebending or crease lines 72 and 76 out of the plane of central portion60, with the reentrant jaw or tonguelike portion 78 being finally bentdownward along bending or crease line 80 to overlie portion 60. Next theupper section 12 is properly formed to become an operative portion ofthe cigarette extinguishing ap paratus 10 by bending side portions 38and 40 upward out of the plane of central portion 36 along respectivebending lines 42 and 44. Now rear portion 46 is bent upward out of theplane of body portion 36 along its crease or bending line 48 and forwardportion or lip 50 is bent upward out of the plane of central bodyportion 36 along its respective bending or crease line 52. Finally thetonguelike portion orreentrant jaw portion 54 is bent downward on itsrespective crease or bending line 56 to overlie central portion 36. Nowupper section 12 of cigarette extinguishing apparatus 10 is inverted tooverlie lower section 14, and respective cutout portions 58 and 82 areengaged, as depicted in FIG. 4, to insure and maintain the engagementand closing of the inner ends of reentrant jaw or tonguelike portions 54and 78 of respective upper and lower sections 12 and 14 of theapparatus. Once the U-shaped cutout portions 58 and 82 have beenintertwined and engaged with each other, spring 26 is placed andpositioned within the rear end portion of extinguisher 10 withrespective side portions 28 and 30 thereof respectively bearing againstmain body portions 36 and 60 of respective upper and lower sections ofthe extinguisher. To complete the assembly and hold the portions thereofproperly in position, connecting hinge pin arrangement 16 is positionedtherein. This is accomplished by placing female member 20 thereofthrough openings or passageways 41 and 84 within respective sideportions 40 and 62 of respective upper and lower sections 12 and 14, andplacing male member 18 thereof through respective passageways oropenings 39 and 86 of respective side portions 38 and 64 of respectiveupper and lower sections 12 and 14 of the extinguisher, and then finallyjoining elements 18 and 20 of the pivotal connecting means 16, see inparticular FIG. 3. Now the cigarette extinguisher 10 is ready foroperation and subsequent use.

In using and employing cigarette extinguisher 10 of this invention, thejawlike forward end portion 24 thereof is opened to separate the engagedtonguelike portions 54 and 78, which have been in touching contactduring the normally closed, at rest position of the cigaretteextinguisher, by pressing upper and lower sections 12, 14 together by athumb and finger respectively placed on the rearward end portions ofcentral body portions 36 and 60 thereof. When the jawlike forward endportion 24 has been opened a burning or ignited cigarette may then beplaced therein for extinguishing, for upon release of the thumb andfinger spring 22 will bias upper and lower sections 12 and 14 to closethe jawlike forward end portion 24, and tonguelike portions 54 and 78will come into touching contact to thereby extinguish the lightedcigarette placed therebetween. The elongated cutout portions 58 and 82remain engaged with one another to prevent the opening of the rearwardend portions of tonguelike portions 54 and 78 during the extinguishingoperatiomto prevent the cigarette from being inserted into theextinguisher 10 to a point beyond the touching contact of tongielikeportions 58 and 74, and to generally aid in the extinguishing of thecigarette by preventing substantial amounts of air from reaching theignited end thereof. Additionally large depending side portions 38 and40 of upper portion 12 of the extinguisher, and in particular theforward end portions thereof, help and aid in extinguishing thecigarette by preventing substantial amounts of air from reaching theignited end thereof, and also prevent the misplacement or sidewaysslipping from the extinguisher of the ignited or forward end portion ofthe lighted cigarette. After extinguishing of the lighted cigarette, thesame may be permitted to remain within the extinguisher until a later orother appropriate time at which the cigarette butt can be disposed of inan ash tray or other proper receptacle upon release of the same from theextinguisher; or the cigarette if long enough may by later reignited andsubsequently smoked.

Cigarette extinguisher or snuffer can be readily adapted, by applicationof a suitable clip thereto, to be carried and attached to ones pocketfor extended use in the field, such as during hunting or fishing trips.In similar fashion the apparatus could be readily adapted to bereleasably mounted to the dashboard of an automobile, to the interior ofan automobile ash tray, or on and in connection with other ash trays orother suitable ash and cigarette butt receptacles.

With particular reference to FIG. 7, another embodiment of the cigaretteextinguisher 10 of this invention is shown therein and is seen toinclude another spring arrangement. The embodiment of FIG. 7 shows theapparatus to be usable and functional with a coiled spring 90 positionedwithin the rear end portion thereof between end portions 46 and 70 ofrespective upper and lower sections 12 and 14 connecting hinge pinarrangement 16 thereof. Coil spring 90 includes an upper end portion 92,and a lower end portion 94 which end portions respectively abut and arerespectively in engagement with central body portion 36 of upper portion12 and central body portion 60 of lower portion 14 of the extinguisher.Coiled spring 90 urges the rear end portions of upper and lower sections12 and 14 away from each other into a spread apart condition, such as toclose and urge jawlike forward end portion 24 of the cigaretteextinguisher into a closed position with tonguelike portions 54 and 78in touching engagement or contact, as depicted in FIG. 1.

With detailed reference to FIG. 8, a further embodiment of the cigaretteextinguisher 10 is shown therein and includes a further springarrangement including a pigtail-type coil spring 100. In this furtherembodiment shown in FIG. 8, pigtail-type coil spring 100 includes acoiled section 102 which fits over and around female member 20 ofconnecting hinge pin arrangement l6 and the upper and lower pigtailportions 104 and 106. Upper pigtail portion 104 is in contact andengagement with central body portion 36 of upper section 12 at the pointof its connection with end portion 46 thereof, and lower pigtail portion106 is in contact with and engages central body portion 60 of lowersection 14 where it joins end portion 70 thereof. Coiled pigtail spring100, and in particular its pigtail portions 104 and 106, urges therearward end portions of upper and lower sections 12, 14 apart or awayfrom each other about connecting hinge pin arrangement 16, such as tourge the jawlike forward end portion 24 of cigarette extinguisher 10into its closed position as depicted in FIG. 1, with tonguelike portions54 and 78 in contact and engagement with each other to extinguish alighted cigarette placed therebetween.

While certain preferred embodiments of this invention have been shownand described by way of illustration, many modifications within the truespirit and scope of this invention and within the following claims willoccur to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed as new and what it is desired to secure by LettersPatent of the United States is:

1. An extinguisher for cigarettes and the like comprising an upperboxlike member including a top generally horizontal wall, a reargenerally upright end wall attached to the rear edge of said top walland depending therefrom, a pair of generally upright sidewallsrespectively attached to opposite side edges of said top wall anddepending therefrom, and a downwardly facing jawlike forward end portionhaving a reentrant tongue positioned between said pair of sidewalls; alower boxlike member including a bottom generally horizontal wall, arear generally upright end wall attached to the rear edge of said bottomwall and extending upward therefrom, a pair of generally uprightsidewalls respectively attached to opposite side edges of said bottomwall and extending upward therefrormand an upwardly facing jawlikeforward end portron having a reentrant tongue positioned between saidpair of sidewalls; pivot means connecting said upper and lower memberstogether in operative pivotal relationship with said upper and lowermembers being freely pivotable about said pivot means; and spring meanspositioned between said upper and lower members for biasing saidreentrant tongues together for extinguishing the lighted end of acigarette placed therebetween.

2. In the extinguisher as defined in claim 1 wherein said pivot means isspaced between said forward end portions and said rear end walls, saidspring means being positioned between said pivot means and said rear endwalls, the rearward end portions of said top and bottom walls forminghandle means whereby the selective movement of said top and bottom wallrearward end portions between thumb and finger toward each other againstsaid spring means permits selective opening and closing of said jawlikeforward end portions.

3. In the extinguisher as defined in claim 1 wherein said reentranttongues are connected together adjacent their rearward ends to limit theextent of entry of the cigarette end therebetween.

4. In the extinguisher as defined in claim 1 wherein said pivot meansincludes a hinge pin extending between and connected to said sidewallsof each said upper and lower member, said spring means being positionedbetween said hinge pin and said rear end walls of said upper and lowermembers.

5. An extinguisher for cigarettes and the like comprising an upperboxlike member including a top outer wall extending generallyhorizontally, a rear end wall attached to the rear edge of said topouter wall and depending generally vertically therefrom, a pair ofsidewalls respectively attached to opposite side edges of said top outerwall and depending generally vertically therefrom, and a downwardlyfacing jawlike forward end portion; a lower boxlike member including abottom outer wall extending generally horizontally, a rear end wallattached to the rear edge of said bottom outer wall and extendinggenerally upwardly therefrom, a pair of sidewalls respectively attachedto opposite side edges of said bottom outer wall and extending upwardtherefrom, and an upwardly facing jawlike forward end portion; pivotmeans connecting said upper and lower members together in operativepivotal relationship with said upper and lower members being freelypivotable about said pivot means; spring means positioned between saidupper and lower members for biasing said jawlike forward end portionstogether for extinguishing the lighted end of a cigarette placedtherebetween; and each said jawlike forward end portion having areentrant tongue positioned between respective said pairs of sidewalls,and extending generally in the same directions as said top and bottomouter walls, each said reentrant tongues having a rear ward end portioncontacting each other to limit the extent of entry of the cigarette endtherebetween.

6. The extinguisher as defined in claim 5 wherein each said reentrantrearward end portion includes means for connecting said reentrantrearward end portions together.

1. An extinguisher for cigarettes and the like comprising an upperboxlike member including a top generally horizontal wall, a reargenerally upright end wall attached to the rear edge of said top walland depending therefrom, a pair of generally upright sidewallsrespectively attached to opposite side edges of said top wall anddepending therefrom, and a downwardly facing jawlike forward end portionhaving a reentrant tongue positioned between said pair of sidewalls; alower boxlike member including a bottom generally horizontal wall, arear generally upright end wall attached to the rear edge of said bottomwall and extending upward therefrom, a pair of generally uprightsidewalls respectively attached to opposite side edges of said bottomwall and extending upward therefrom, and an upwardly facing jawlikeforward end portion having a reentrant tongue positioned between saidpair of sidewalls; pivot means connecting said upper and lower memberstogether in operative pivotal relationship with said upper and lowermembers being freely pivotable about said pivot means; and spring meanspositioned between said upper and lower members for biasing saidreentrant tongues together for extinguishing the lighted end of acigarette placed therebetween.
 2. In the extinguisher as defined inclaim 1 wherein said pivot means is spaced between said forward endportions and said rear end walls, said spring means being positionedbetween said pivot means and said rear end walls, the rearward endportions of said top and bottom walls forming handle means whereby theselective movement of said top and bottom wall rearward end portionsbetween thumb and finger toward each other against said spring meanspermits selective opening and closing of said jawlike forward endportions.
 3. In the extinguisher as defined in claim 1 wherein saidreentrant tongues are connected together adjacent their rearward ends tolimit the extent of entry of the cigarette end therebetween.
 4. In theextinguisher as defined in claim 1 wherein said pivot means includes ahinge pin extending between and connected to said sidewalls of each saidupper and lower member, said spring means being positioned between saidhinge pin and said rear end walls of said upper and lower members.
 5. Anextinguisher for cigarettes and the like comprising an upper boxlikemember including a top outer wall extending generally horizontally, arear end wall attached to the rear edge of said top outer wall anddepending generally vertically therefrom, a pair of sidewallsrespectively attached to opposite side edges of said top outer wall anddepending generally vertically therefrom, and a downwardly facingjawlike forward end portion; a lower boxlike member including a bottomouter wall extending generally horizontally, a rear end wall attached tothe rear edge of said bottom outer wall and extending generally upwardlytherefrom, a pair of sidewalls respectively attached to opposite sideedges of said bottom outer wall and extending upward therefrom, and anupwardly facing jawlike forward end portion; pivot means connecting saidupper and lower members together in operative pivotal relationship withsaid upper and lower members being freely pivotable about said pivotmeans; spring means positioned between said upper and lower members forbiasing said jawlike forward end portions together for extinguishing thelighted end of a cigarette placed therebetween; and each said jawlikeforward end portion having a reentrant tongue positioned betweenrespective said pairs of sidewalls, and extending generally in the samedirections as said top and bottom outer walls, each said reentranttongues having a rearward end portion contacting each other to limit theextent of entry of the cigarette end therebetween.
 6. The extinguisheras defined in claim 5 wherein each said reentrant rearward end portionincludes means for connecting said reentrant rearward end portionstogether.